Cut You Down

@Hati — it’s time to find us a kitty cat!

A sharp growl had escaped Maksim Baranski’s throat, his nose lowered to the ground as he sniffed. The deer kills found as they claimed the territory hadn’t been made by a wolf—that much was obvious—and it seemed the culprit of the killings had not been smart enough to evacuate the land upon hearing the song of many wolves. Its stink waltzed right across the border markers as if nothing had changed. That had been more than enough to stir a desire to eliminate the creature in the Cut Rock leader. Raising his head, the commissure of his lips parted and his howl echoed through the crisp morning silence. This was a summoning for a wolf: Taras, the black coated mute. Back in Darkwater Rapids, Maksim had not only named the male but he had also told him he would have to prove he would not simply be another mouth to feed as he couldn’t exactly bargain his piece. It didn’t take long for the scarred figure to emerge, silent as always. Maksim cut straight to chase. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“Taras, did you notice how fresh those deer were?” The one eyed man had nodded in response to the words. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“There’s a lynx in the area, it would seem.” The reptilian gaze of Maksim Baranski that was scanning the treeline returned to the black man. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“How would you feel accompanying me in finding such a threat?” Another nod and that had been enough. With Taras in tow, Maksim had followed the feline’s scent. It travelled further and further away from the territory and carried the two Cut Rock River wolves with it. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“We’ll have to be quick on our paws,” the Baranski warned, briefly glancing back to his companion, <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“for a lynx is no lumbering creature.” With sharp claws, sharp teeth and a body that can twist, turn and dodge with ease, the solitary lynx was a formidable foe but not one that could not be challenged. They’d have to plan the cat’s moves before it did, cover all bases. Part of Maksim was excited, however; a hunt for something other than prey was exhilarating in its own way, a chance to test oneself. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“Look out for any carcasses and tracks in the snow. They’ll be an indicator that it’s around somewhere.”<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

It was strange being called upon.

The ex-rogue had been thoroughly exploring Cut Rock River territory since the group had spent their first night by the river and by now felt quite the expert on the landscape within its southern portion. A few days had passed with little interruption of his solitary travels (which was welcome after the close quarters they had shared journeying from the Rapids) and it could have seemed that nothing was changed since he had been a lone wolf, but the knowledge that he was of a pack still coursed through his heart and mind. No matter how far he wandered he would always be a member of Cut Rock River.

That morning had been spent basking in the sun by the flat rocks of the pack's namesake, his black fur soaking up the warmth and pretending snow did not blanket the ground and the temperature was not well below freezing. It was then that Maksim Baranksi's summons pulled him back from his reveries and brought him to immediate attention, shooting along the river's banks and then perpendicular to the freezing waters straight to where his leader awaited. Hati had no idea what to expect but curiosity made him wonder what was going on and why Maksim had called for him specifically. The thought that he had earned disapproval did enter his mind but was swiftly cut off, for the howl had held no condemnation.

Within minutes Hati exploded from the trees and spotted Maksim standing with his senses working intensely. Immediately the subordinate's own interest perked and his nose flew up in the air searching for new smells as he trotted towards the tawny man. Amongst their own signature scents and the faint memory of many species of rodents burrowing through the snow, the one odor that caught his attention was that of a cat. The creature had passed through his area somewhat recently and had not even tried slightly to mask the peculiar musk which it carried with it.

Once the Baranksi's question was asked Hati immediately felt a flush of pride that was mingled with annoyance. He was not a fool—what could everyone do but choose a name to call him by—but every time the word "Taras" passed through his ears it reminded him fully of his problem. However the feeling soon was overridden with gladness and excitement as the two males set off away from Cut Rock River territory. A lynx hunt would be a new thing to the man of many experiences, though generally dealing with the breed was not altogether foreign.

As they moved stealthily through Cedarwood forest, now far from pack borders, Hati's mind and senses were working like mad exploring the knowledge he had acquired about the lynx. They were in no way passive, however he had no idea how one would respond to an onslaught by two big wolves. Would it fight? Run? If they hoped to rid themselves of the thing entirely they would probably have to corner it lest it flee (which Hati believed would be the sensible thing to do were he in the cat's position) only to return and pester the pack again. But he left it up to Maksim to give the orders and kept quiet. As always.

They followed the lynx's trail for a long ways before spotting any tracks, signaling night-fall and the beast's choice of resting place, for a fresh snow had fallen under cover of darkness concealing all prints which had been lain there previously. The scent was now incredibly strong; the cat could not have left this place more than a few hours ago. So they kept on at a steady lope, swiftly cutting the distance between them and their prey.

(This post was last modified: Nov 15, 2013, 09:43 PM by Hati.)

Not much of a post, but I have some stuff to do so I threw this up very quickly. Feel free to have them encounter the elusive beastie in your next post, Rend <3.

Both males walked in silence as the day stretched on and on. Each minute they grew closer to the feline and Maksim’s spirits raised ever so slightly. Occasionally, he would catch sight of a sign that indicated the lynx had passed through and whilst there were no tracks yet he took this as a very positive (and simultaneously negative) sign. The lynx was certainly planning to stick around. The hunt would not be in vain after all. Usually, Maksim would not bother with a lynx but if it was bringing down deer in such close range to two pups? Well, he simply could not allow that to occur. One day deer, next day a young wolf. That was reason enough, wasn’t it? He simply wouldn’t let anything potentially endangered the Attaya girls. Anything. The moon was now high in the sky, bathing the canopy in gentle light that almost glittered off the snow, a sight that Maksim would have found rather pretty if he weren’t busy focusing on the task at hand. Still, he kept his gaze focused on the ground in case of tracks and finally he spotted them. With a soft grunt, he halted and raised his head to follow the paw prints in the snow as far as he could by sight alone. The scent was so strong that Maksim’s hackles rose ever so slightly in apprehension for the task they would soon be performing: exterminating a pest. Casting a glance over his shoulder to Taras, he jerked his head again and they began to move once more. It wouldn’t be long now. Perhaps luck was on their side today.<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

Look Out!

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the snow. Hunt Opportunity

A feeling of serenity washed over him as the two continued to lope through the forest and snow in perfect quiet. Little effort was expended on tracking their quarry for the scent was overwhelming now and the paw prints were easy to see under the moonlight that filtered through the barren canopy above. Every movement was settled into a steady rhythm of long, powerful strides and every sense was in tune to their surroundings. As the distance between themselves and lynx swiftly shortened Hati's heartbeats became quicker and heavier, like that of a field mouse trapped in the middle of a cornfield with nowhere to run as the hawk descended.

Suddenly the musty odor tripled in strength signalling the very near presence of the lynx. Now the hunt truly began. With a confident glance at Maksim the older wolf slowed his gait to a fast trot in anticipation for a meeting with the potentially difficult feline, all his senses working to pinpoint its exact location. For a minute he kept on at this pace, the fur on his body standing straight up and a silent growl rumbling in his chest, and then something bid him stop. Confused, the dark male remained still as he thoroughly looked over the area he had paused in and then understood what had caught his attention so subtly.

A low, chesty hiss emanated from a thick patch of undergrowth only yards away and on its near edge one could see the silvery pattern of a lynx hunched down close to the snow. Hati knew it must have noted their presence for quite a while (judging by the faster dissipation of scent trail that had occurred several miles back) and had finally hunkered down to wait. A strange light entered Hati's golden eye as he watched the beast, his neck arched and body stiff. The cat obviously wanted to fight so cornering it was needless now. He charged.

Speed had always been on his side and as he flew forward the lynx had little time to react aside from leaping to the side as quickly as possible. But Hati had planned the direction of his rush so that as the cat evaded his attack his body twisted with it, and once he landed all three members of the event were in a straight line with the lynx in the middle and both wolves facing her. Satisfaction warmed his soul as he prepared for a second charge on Maksim's order, eyelid protecting most of the one good eye he had.

(This post was last modified: Nov 15, 2013, 09:44 PM by Hati.)

They were close, very close, and Maksim was fully alert now. He would have been stupid to not suspect an ambush from an angry lynx and so, as always, he kept his wits about him. The older, mute male stopped and the leader noticed this mid-stride, freezing as one foot slowly lowered to the snow covered ground. Suddenly, the Baranski understood why: something wasn’t sitting right in the air. It was as if time itself had slowed, both men straining to understand and scanning the treeline when there came the distinct hiss of a feline broke the silence of the forest. There she was, hunkered down and waiting for the wolves to wander off. Problem was, she knew they wouldn’t and they knew damn well she wouldn’t want to give up “her” hunting grounds, either. Taras had moved first, darting forward as the lynx leapt out of the way. Maksim positioned himself almost as swiftly, pivoting around so he was directly facing the cat that was now between the two Cut Rock males. The stand-off did not last long as a fierce snarl escaped the Baranski’s throat as he feigned a charge, catching the lynx’s attention with her back arched and her tongue flicked out between her lips. She was nervous. Again she span, trying to keep her attention on both wolves. Each time she looked away, Maksim took a brief step forwards. Each time he weighed up his chances of grasping onto her. The agouti male growled a signal to Taras—on three they would simultaneously leap and hopefully catch the feline off guard or, at the very least, disorientate it enough so that one of them may latch onto a leg or find flesh. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

It was too late. Assuming Maksim was not going to command a course of action after several tense moments, Hati waited for the lynx to focus her attention on the advancing alpha: a fatal mistake. He lunged just as Mac's growl registered in his brain as a planned signal, and a split second decision opted for continuing his attack rather than back off now since the latter would warn the lynx to be more careful of her smaller and darker assailant and steal the chance. As it was she had no idea what was coming until his jaws snapped shut on the upper meaty part of her left hind leg. Immediately the lynx had twisted and retaliated, spitting, hissing, and snarling as her teeth and claws batted at his face. Hati backed off with more than a few shallow scratches littering his broad head. But the cat was rendered immobile, or at least extremely slow.

He would let the huge Baranski have the honor of finishing the animal off, so he stepped backward to relate his intentions...right into the oncoming rush of a second lynx attracted by the commotion and seemingly attached in some way to the already dangerously wounded specimen writhing in the snow before them. A strangled mixture of a yelp and a snarl, of a kind no ordinary wolf would utter, escaped through Hati's jaws and now it was he who twisted around to face the second offender. But the larger male cat had retreated leaving the wolf quivering in rage more than the searing pain of a deep gouge in his flank.

Maksim had been a split second too late with his signal and Taras had leapt forth, intent on finding his target teeth first. The lynx shrieked, twisted and yowled as large paws flew at the dark wolf’s face and she even attempted to find a hold on him with her own teeth. Finally, the Cut Rock River subordinate backed away from the feline and the Baranski took this as his cue to finish the blasted creature. Wary as ever, his large jaws crunched into the back of the feline’s neck as a strangled bark escape her. Immediately, the agouti male’s hold was secured and he began a wild, feral shaking of his head as yellowed teeth tore and shredded, the lynx attempting to twist and throw clawed punches against the wolf’s chest. Her efforts were in vain, however, and she was soon crippled. Maksim would have finished the job had his keen eye not caught sight of another lynx springing from the shadows and lashing out of Taras. Bloodied jaws dropped the first lynx as the second retreated and Maksim charged forwards, kicking up a flurry of snow and dirt behind him as his teeth clicked together and a snarl ripped from his throat. A half-assed ambush on the cat’s part, though its speed would ensure its escape today. Inwardly the Baranski cursed his lumbering frame. He hadn’t sprinted for that long before he slowed, the lynx already far ahead of the Cut Rock leader. He turned, focusing his attention on the writhing, bleeding feline that seemed twisted out of position in the snow before his reptilian gaze fell upon Taras. The laceration on his flank didn’t look at that pleasant. They’d better find a healer soon. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“Can you walk?”<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue

Nothing registered in the subordinate's mind as he stared after the vanished wolf and lynx with one intense golden eye and remained there alone, shaking violently. It had been such a surprise to be attacked from the rear that it had rendered him useless. But only for a second. Even as Maksim slowed Hati's spirit flared up and he took off, ignoring the screaming pain in his flank that intensified every time weight was put on his hind leg. He was fast, and he was stealthy. While the latter was of little use to him now as he raced through the forest the former proved to truer than ever.

Two things urged him on. The first and foremost was his alpha and his pack. He would prove that he was strong, not a pup to look after. He would do his part in protecting those who were by taking down this second lynx that Maksim Baranski could not for all of his great size and strength. The second was his own pride which had been severely cut down by the lynx's surprise attack. He would steal it back. Because Hati was fast. A sly grin was slowly spreading across his face as his strides became longer and more powerful carrying him closer and closer to the cat. He could see it now, sprinting away as fast as its legs could take it, but not nearly fast enough.

The cat had made one mistake that Hati gladly took note of. It must have been counting on an easy escape for rather than heading for the safety of bushes and undergrowth that wolves could not move through well it instead fled through the openness of the forest where only bare trees and undisturbed snow gave shelter. The chase lasted only a few minutes. The nearer Hati got to the lynx the less he could feel the sting in his side and more he hated the creature. Eventually only feet separated the two as they ran. The end was close and both knew it. However, Hati was not sure what he would do once he came within leaping distance. If he could put a leg out of use until Maksim arrived on the scene (hopefully he had been following quickly) then all would be well. A fight with a lynx was not something the half-blind man could wish for and if at all possible he would avoid it.

But there was no more time for planning. Hati put all of his strength into one last bound that swiftly closed the remaining distance between himself and his target. Just at that moment the lynx swerved slightly to the side and his jaws snapped together on only a bit of skin. The momentum behind him sent both tumbling over the snow. The lynx was quicker to gain footing and, understanding the impossibility of escaping his undaunted assailant, leaped at the black wolf as Hati rose from the snow just in time to see the flash of silver.

For several moments the two bodies were locked in battle as both dealt blow after blow. At first Hati did well, blocking the cat's move with his own but soon his opponent became wise to his many weaknesses. Slowly it gained the upper hand and blood flowed freely all over Hati's body and still he refused to give up. Dozens of times he had forfeited battles with his own kind and fled far away to a place where he was unknown and therefore safe. This time the result of his actions would be carried with him for as long as he lived in Cut Rock River. So he fought.

The close grappling only lasted seconds before they backed away and circled each other. The cat's hissing and growling was met by Hati's silence as it tried to trick him into exposing his weak side by dancing lightly around where the wolf stood panting. And then it saw its chance as the moon hid itself behind a cloud and the movement of Hati's ebony head to watch his opponent was weak and sluggish. His lithe body parted with the ground and sailed over the ground in a graceful arc. Hati's instinct warned him to sidestep and he partially evaded the lynx's throat-aimed rush, instead meeting it with his rump. Time slowed as he writhed and twisted in half faster than the lynx could comprehend and his bloodied teeth sank into the creature's jugular. Red liquid spurted out all over his face and shoulders and pooled in the snow as he backed away from the limp body. The whole encounter had lasted less than a minute.

I couldn't bear to let it go. xD And I should probably list Hati's injuries so you don't appear on scene and think he's about to die. Basically he has a deep gash on both sides, one on his neck, and several less serious scratches all over his body. So it looks bad because of how much blood but he should be able to move fine if they get moving right away. Otherwise he will stiffen up. Also if you see anything unrealistic in the post let me know and I can fix it, rewrite the whole post if I have to. :) Sorry it's so long...

sooo sorry for taking so long.

Maksim barely had enough time to finish asking about Taras’ wellbeing before the black male was off like a hawk, focused on chasing down and eliminating his attacker. Wide eyed, the leader watched his subordinate charge off after the lynx. A second later and it clicked in the agouti male’s mind what his one-eyed companion was going to do. Clearly, there was a serious case of wounded pride that the ebony wolf desperately wanted to rectify. Maksim took off for a second time, his jaw tense and yellowed teeth gritted as he kicked up snow behind him with each long stride. Whilst speed wasn’t one of the Baranski’s main fortes at all, he kept pushing himself forward as fast as his legs could carry him. He wasn’t exactly a blur of colour but he surprised himself. He’d never really bothered to push himself as fast as he could—it wasn’t ever necessary. Briefly, Maksim wondered what scene he would come across. Would Taras have tired of the chase with his injured flank, given up and stopped? Or would he pursue the lynx until he found it? Would they be locked in battle or would one of them be left dead in the snow? What if the black wolf … no, he shouldn’t think of such things. Taras would be fine. Right? The Cut Rock leader did his best to think positive but as the male chasing down the lynx was blind in one eye, mute and suffering from the recent laceration to his flank, it was a little hard. The spitting and hissing caught his attention and Maksim let out a bark of frustration and of reassurance; he’d be there soon. The Baraski found himself panting, the speed at which he carried his muscular frame a little too tiring. He slowed, wanting to conserve the energy he could in case Taras required assistance. It wasn’t too long before his verdant eyes finally locked onto the dark frame of the wolf and the lynx that leapt from the ground and soared through the air with claws and fangs at the ready. Maksim hollered, his voice rushed. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“Watch out!” And then the forces collided right in front his eyes. The feline caught the rump of the canine and he in turn twisted suddenly, jaws snapping wildly on the throat of the cat. The thick scent of blood didn’t take long to reach Maksim as he suddenly stopped, panting as his chest heaved. Silence stretched out for moments as he assessed the situation. The lynx was dead and Taras? Well, he’d certainly seen better days. Praise could wait. For now, they needed to get home and get him patched up. <b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">“I’ll ask again; can you walk?” Perhaps this time he’d get an answer.<b style="font-family:georgia; font-size:11px; color:#619F28;">

we are shining in the rising sun, as we are floating in the blue